How can you tell if the next generation is ready to take over the farm? Abe Toews, a succession expert with Beyond Wealth Consulting in Regina, Sask., says the best way is to test them.

Involve them now

“A good litmus test is to consider whether or not Mom and Dad can step away from the farm for three or four months without disrupting the operation,” Toews says. “If the kids can’t rise to the occasion, examine what needs to happen so they can.”

He recommends starting to develop management skills by involving them in meetings with your lender and accountant, and letting them participate in production planning. It’s critical they understand what the financial statements say. Next step is to test their leadership abilities by letting them take over a significant task that interests them.

If you want the secret to a smooth succession, it's up-front communication.

Develop skills and start delegating

“There are lots of activities on the farm you can delegate that will be a lot better in younger hands,” Toews says. “The younger generation is generally more adaptable to technology, for example. Farm Credit Canada has some good farm management software available for farmers, so make operating it a project for them.”

It’s important to let your children make some mistakes, Toews adds. They won’t always get everything right, but you shouldn’t necessarily jump in and try to fix it. As long as it’s not a catastrophic error, give them the opportunity to figure things out.

Learn to let go

Letting go of control of the farm isn’t an easy decision for many farmers, says Diane McKenzie, a rancher and farm succession expert from Warner, Alta. Not only do they fear they won’t have enough money for their retirement, but they’re also hesitant to give up control of their life’s work. That’s why most planners have a tale to tell about a 65-year-old farmer who hopes that this year his dad will finally let him see the books.

“The emotional aspects of succession planning seem more complicated for some people than others,” McKenzie says. “It’s a grieving process; they’re grieving the passage of time and their own mortality.”

McKenzie says that if your parents aren’t ready to let go, try to put yourself in their shoes. Develop a step-by-step proposal that addresses both their emotional and financial concerns.

Communication key to succession success

Talking about uncomfortable issues like money, retirement and death is never easy. That’s why lack of communication between the two generations is the single biggest issue that Toews sees when helping a family with their succession plan.

“Mom and Dad grew up in an environment where talking about money wasn’t considered appropriate,” Toews says. “They never saw their parents’ estate plan until the day after their funeral. If you want to distil the secret to a smooth succession plan down to one thing, it would be up-front communications.”

Sometimes it’s easier to discuss issues by bringing in an independent third party, a succession planner, to help steer the process and act as a buffer, McKenzie says.

Outline expectations clearly

Toews suggests having everyone participate in regular family meetings. It’s an opportunity for Mom and Dad to outline what their expectations are for retirement, and non-farming children can share what their expectations are for an inheritance.

“The sooner you start doing this, the better,” Toews says. “Some of these planning things take time, so don’t hesitate to start involving your children – even if some of them are still in their teens. At that stage you have no idea whether they’ll be interested in taking over the operation or not. But showing them there is an opportunity for them if they are interested is critical for developing the entrepreneurial spirit they need to become a farmer.”

Will there be someone to take over?

Farming in Canada is on the cusp of a massive generational shift. Data from the most recent Census of Agriculture[SD1] won’t be available for a while, but in 2011 the oldest operator on 55 per cent of Canadian farms was over 55.

Traditionally, the older generation has groomed the younger one to take over by working with them side by side. That doesn’t appear to be happening as much today; the last census showed that only one in seven operators now work on a multi-generational farm (defined as a farm with at least two operators with an age difference of twenty years or more).

“The reality is that we have thousands of business owners who want to leave their business in the next five to 10 years,” Toews says. He worries there may not be enough young entrepreneurs ready to take over. “It’s a huge issue and it hasn’t had the attention it deserves.” It’s also an opportunity for young people passionate about farming.